Vortex Radio

The local guys over at Second Self Beer Company have been pumping out unique beers for a couple years now. With a unique blend of ingredients and a thoughtful use of hop varieties, there's no doubt they are making some of the most interesting beer in the state. Crack open a beer and stuff your ears with this audio junk food! 

Did you listen to Z93 back in the day? How about Dave FM? Chances are, if you live in Atlanta, you've heard Mara Davis' voice on the radio. Now, she's eating at all of Atlanta's best restaurants for Atlanta Eats. She joins the Vortex Radio crew on this very special episode to talk about the restaurant scene in the city and all of the craziness that goes along with it.

Kristen Benoit, owner of Atlanta's own Bone Garden Cantina, joins the podcast once again but this time, she is here to teach the gang all about Mezcal. Have you always been confused about the difference between Tequila and Mezcal? Well it's about time you learn!

The city of Atlanta hasn't seen a distillery since 1906. In 2014, Old Fourth Distillery changed that. Craig Moore, O4D's Head Fermentor, is our special guest on Vortex Radio this week. He talks about the challenges of opening up a distillery in Atlanta, what it's like to work in a 1,300 square foot building and, of course, we try their delicious Vodka and Gin. He even brought us some young whiskey in for us to sample. Listen in!

Reformation has been pumping out quality craft beer for a long time now. What started as a home brewing project, quickly turned into a community event, which then evolved into a full-scale brewery. The CEO and Co-Founder, Spencer Nix, as well has one of his Accounts Relationship Managers, Hamilton Bolton, join this episode of Vortex Radio. They brought in all kinds of delicious brews for the crew to try so crack open a beer and listen in!

Reid Ramsay of the popular beer news website, Beer Street Journal, comes on the podcast to drink beer and talk about beer. He's joined by Wild Heaven Craft Beers' very own Apostle of Ales, Sarah Young, who has brought in some delicious beers for the crew to try. Listen in to expand your beer horizons on this beer-centric episode of Vortex Radio. Did we mention we drink a lot of beer on this one? 

Nightclub entrepreneur, Michael Krohngold, has been in the Atlanta bar and club scene for a long time. On this very special episode of Vortex Radio, Michael takes us into the crazy past of Atlanta nightlife. Listen in to hear what Atlanta was like when closing time didn't exist and you could party until the birds started chirping.

Atlanta based artist, R. Land, recently came over to the Vortex Little 5 Points and painted a mural on the side of our bar. Now he's back to hang out with Michael and the Vortex Radio crew. Want to know a little bit about the history of R. Land? Curious about what he thinks of the constantly changing city of Atlanta? Listen in! This is one juicy podcast. 

This week on Vortex Radio, the owner of the famous Porter Beer Bar, Molly Gunn, joins us. A neighbor of the Little 5 Points Vortex, The Porter has been pouring beer and pumping out delicious food for eight years now. Listen in for some insight on what it's like to curate a beer menu that has over 800 unique brews. Spoiler: it ain't easy! 

Remember Kelsey Daniels? She was on the podcast a few months ago and just couldn't get enough! She's a Sales Gal for local guys, Monday Night Brewery, and now she's back to show the gang what new, delicious boozy substances Monday Night has been brewing up in the past months. They try the new and improved Nerd Alert Pseudo Pilsner, Slap Fight West Coast IPA and the delicious Fu Manbrew Gose. Crack open a beer and listen to this one on a Monday night. Because weekends are overrated. .

On another craft beer focused episode of Vortex Radio, Rebecca Royster, Brand and Sales Manager for Orpheus Brewing, joins us. With a lineup featuring saisons, sours, hops, and barrels, Orpheus Brewing is offering beers unique to the Southeast and gaining a lot of attention from craft beer lovers all across the country. Listen in as the gang takes a journey through their delicious offerings and learns a little bit about Greek mythology along the way. Crack open a beer, press play and don't look back.

Snuggled in the city of Avondale Estates, Wild Heaven Craft Brewery pumps out some of the best beer Georgia has to offer. Their Apostle of Ales, Sarah Young, joins Vortex Radio this week to educate and enlighten the crew with some tasty brews. Listen in as the gang tries some delicious and strong beverages while, as usual, talking complete nonsense. 

Have you ever noticed the giant motorcycles hanging in The Vortex? Of course you have! But do you know who gave them to us? John Landstrom, owner of Blue Moon Cycle, is an aficionado of all things motorcycles and the person who generously donated the sweet cycles in The Vortex. Listen in to this podcast to get some unique history about them along with stories from the early Vortex days when Michael and Suzanne used to rip through the countryside with John on their bikes.

We have Red Brick Brewing Company's Brewmaster and President, Garett Lockhart, and Sales Manager, Jason Topping, on Vortex Radio this week. We've always been big fans of their beer. We serve their delicious Laughing Skull beer at both of our Vortex locations and have for some time. If you haven't cracked open a skull with one of our juicy burgers, you haven't lived! Pour yourself a cold brew and tune in to this tasty podcast. 

This week, we have Mike Jakob on Vortex Radio! Mike owns the Castleberry Hill bar, Elliot Street Pub, with his brother, Pete. Elliot Street Pub is a tiny bar with an interesting past and present; clashes with the city government, free-form jazz in the basement, and iron pours in the empty lot next door. They are coming up on their tenth year anniversary in April! The City Council is even declaring that date as official annual Elliot Street Pub day.

This week on Vortex Radio, we have Jeff Merback. He’s the owner of the sister bar of The Vortex, The Highlander. It opened up two weeks before The Vortex back in 1992 and was the go-to hang out for our servers after they got off of work. Listen in to hear what it's like to run a smoky punk rock dive bar for almost 24 years, which is half of Jeff's life! You don't want to miss this one. 

This week on Vortex Radio, we have former Vortex Server and Manager, Laura Merback! Want to hear some great stories from 20 years ago when The Vortex was just getting its start? Then tune in! From regulars fighting down the stairs, The interesting drink preference of the Nigerian track team, and even Hank hitting the town in extra small dolphin shorts; this podcast has it all! 

Looking to increase your tequila smarts? We've got just what your brain is craving in this episode of Vortex Radio. We are joined by the Sales Director for Atlanta's own Goza Tequila, Lauren Kaufman. She runs us through their delicious tequilas and tells us all about how they are made. If that's not enough expertise for you, Michael is a certified Mezcalier which means that, according to the Mexican government, he can teach you all you need to know about Mezcal. So take a shot and get ready for some junk food for your earholes! 

Some recent spooky events over at The Vortex Midtown gives Rebecca and Vortex bartender, Samantha, reason to believe that The Vortex is Haunted! Listen in to this episode of Vortex Radio to get the details about this supernatural occurrence. Ghost Hunters are always welcome to come and grab a beer with us, BYO proton pack. 

This week on Vortex Radio, we are joined by Monday Night Brewing Sales Gal and Beyoncé Impersonator, Kelsey Daniels. We're sure you've tried their amazing beer already, but do you know how they came to be known as Monday Night Brewing? We talk about the back-story and also try a sample of their delicious brews. As if that wasn't exciting enough, Vortex co-owner, Hank Benoit, joins us on the podcast for the very first time! Don't miss this one!